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Population control ‘a weapon of the West’
Andra Wisnu , The Jakarta Post , JAKARTA | Mon, 07/27/2009 11:05 AM | National
Speakers at a conference for young Indonesian Muslims Friday, urged the audience to denounce birth control methods such as condoms and the government’s family planning program, claiming such measures were part of a conspiracy to weaken the country.
At Ragunan Sports Center in South Jakarta, speakers at the conference titled, “Young Muslims, save Indonesia with Sharia and the Caliphate” asked the young attendants to reject contraception based on the rationale that reducing the population would weaken the country and draw it further into the conspiracy plans of the West.
“The effort is further supported by prohibition against marrying, such as the age limit to marry and give birth, which is above 20 and below 30,” said Nadiya Rayhan, a student activist from the Islamic State University (UIN) during the conference.
She said one of the government’s family planning programs, Teenage Reproductive Health (KRR), had allowed teenagers to learn about sex and practice sex freely, which is denounced by Islam.
Furthermore, she said the program’s information about abortion has disseminated the idea that it was acceptable for young Indonesian Muslims not to have children, which she linked to an attempt to weaken the country.
“This is clearly an attempt at genocide that has been planned carefully by the West,” she said.
Cicin Yulianti, a student activist from the Bogor Institute of Agriculture, elaborated on the “genocide” conspiracy further, saying that more people in Islamic countries would increase the possibility of stronger human resources.
She also said the fact that the population of Western countries, 20 percent of the world’s population, which consumed 80 percent of the world’s agricultural resources, signaled a motive for the West to obstruct population growth in Islamic countries.
“Young Muslims must wake up to this conspiracy,” she said. “Young Muslims must not eat up the poison packaged by the West with jargons like ‘caring about your reproductive health could give you a prosperous life,’ which forces Muslims to reduce in number”.
The conference was held by Hizbut Tahrir, an Islamic organization based in Indonesia. There were no men in attendance and the Ragunan Sport Center was filled with women and young girls clad in headscarves.
Several women and girls interviewed by The Jakarta Post said the conference was useful, though most of them did not understand the concept of sex or abortion.
Intan, a 17-year-old girl from an Islamic high school in Cibubur, said she had heard about the conference from a Koranic group that she always attended and decided to attend to increase her knowledge of Islam.
“I think it’s useful as it helps me to gain more of an insight into what Islam allows and what Islam prohibits,” she said after the conference.
Dina Hariyani, a teacher from an Islamic school in Jagakarsa, South Jakarta, said she hoped speakers would be more clear about the concept of sex and how to prevent unwanted pregnancies.
“I hoped that my students could come out of this conference at least knowing what sex was about,” she said.
“But my students said they still did not understand.”
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Denni hooping (not verified), jakarta — Thu, 08/06/2009 - 12:52pm
In response to the comment by PhilM who suggests that foreigners do-not comment on matters that relate to the internal affairs of Indonesia. Perhaps PhilM would like to explain exactly what westerners have a right to comment on if not against an accusation that they are involved in a conspiracy to limit the growth of Muslim populations? I quote: "Young Muslims must wake up to this conspiracy,” she said. “Young Muslims must not eat up the poison packaged by the West with jargons like ‘caring about your reproductive health could give you a prosperous life,’ which forces Muslims to reduce in number". I think most foreigners will take the view, "that we can comment on what we want as long as it is not libellous, or inflammatory", its called free speech mate.Raja (not verified), USA/Bali — Sun, 08/02/2009 - 9:48pm
Indonesia needs to start educating their citizens to be proud of their diverse cultural backgrounds and to stop trying to be like the Middle East. They can do this by promoting cultural festivals throughout Indonesia. Then and only then will the voice of crazy radicals be silenced with National Unity and Pride. This place has such a rich and beautiful history. These radicals are Hypocrites who say one thing and mean another. Do not teach sex education but allow 12 year olds to marry perverted old men disguised as a cleric is ok I guess for so called Islamic culture. I much prefer, Mingang culture, Sunda or Betawi or any of the other many cultures in Indo to theses radical thinkers. I love Indonesia just the way it is, and pray everyday that this movement does not take hold. And I may be bule' but I have deep family connections in Indonesia, including husband, daughters and Indo grand children, and all of my beautiful Minang Kabau Family.pascal theveneau (not verified), France — Sun, 08/02/2009 - 2:30pm
I am very pleased to learn that the Iranian government, using contraception and family planning to avoid the demographic time bomb is a part of the West plot against the muslim world. When will people of Indonesia stop seeing a plot of the West everywhere? When are they going to stop listening to stupid people who manipulate them while hiding behing religion and sometimes nationalism? This country deserves better!Stupidman (not verified), indonesia — Sat, 08/01/2009 - 11:58pm
i am indonesian, and i am just wondering,is she(someone said about abortion is weakening plan from west)really have studied in school(or at least in junior high school)??and really capable to be a speaker that will be heard by so many people??hey wake up!!!! you think when you have a lot of children, and you cannot FEED(little bit rude) them, it will strengthen your country?? and for another people that claimed as teacher..hey.. are you sure you are a good enough to be a teacher to say something like “I hoped that my students could come out of this conference at least knowing what sex was about,”oh my gosh..PhilM (not verified), uae — Sat, 08/01/2009 - 9:12pm
Why do certain news items attract so many expat (some expats writing under indonesian names as well?) comments. Please leave sensitive issues for the people of the country to discuss. After the lies of Iraq, Afganistan, Taliban, etc etc, maybe the speakers at the above conference should examine all angles. You fellow expats should read up on colonial history of Far East and newly released classified documents from the colonial rulers.Nicholas (not verified), Cambridge — Fri, 07/31/2009 - 5:57pm
This is not about Islam and the West. This isn't even about religion at all. All it is about really is the fact that there are too many crazy, xenophobic little dickheads in Indonesia who, for some reason I cannot work out, are given deference. It seems there is still a lot I have to learn about the craziness and stupidity of Indonesia!Habwang (not verified), Singapore — Thu, 07/30/2009 - 10:22pm
Too late, the rot has already set in with these groups of Indonesian Muslims. They have targeted themselves to be mentally weak forever by such poorly thought through policies. And that might just be the intent of the radical Islamists who are leading these movements. The future poor Muslims will burn with anger and will be more easily led to revolution. Pity SBY, Megawati, Wiranto and all right thinking Indonesian leaders (who are more rationally secular) to be saddled with such a legacy. Oddly enough, these radical Islamists are probably going to ride to power on the anger and desperation of the multitudinous poor Muslims who they are asking to reproduce themselves without thought to resources. This anger of the future disenfranchised young Muslims will see itself burn as either suicidal jihadist potentials, or grist for the future continuing propogation of hatred for other nations, all for a misconceieved plan to please our Universal God (or is it the miscreant leaders themselves?). But it's not too late if Indonesian leaders provide the right education policies and show to willingness to crack down on such medieval thinking. Long live Pancasila.Mark Clay (not verified), Yorkshire — Thu, 07/30/2009 - 5:43pm
Very controversial, I believe that it should be a woman's right to choose when and where she has children so contraception should be available, using the word "Genocide" doesn't seem to be appropriate as you can't systematically eradicate a nation by allowing them the right to choose how big their family is, and thirdly the age limit to marry and give birth is from 16 upwards, we consider that having sexual relations with a child (a person under 16) is paedophilia,whether married or not, though I have attended a muslim wedding in Dubai where the bride was 13. Perhaps they didn't have sex?MarkusHagenauer (not verified), Germany — Thu, 07/30/2009 - 5:33pm
The country wit the most strict population control in the world is china. Do you belive, they do so, becouse of the influence of the West? The simply have recogniced they cant feed so much people. And what about Indonesia. Isn´t Java absolutely overcrowded? Transmigration can´t be the solution forever. So it is necessary for Indonesias future to slow the growth of the population. But this should be made by informing the people, and not by laws that forbid giving birth for some people.Djaka (not verified), yogya — Thu, 07/30/2009 - 3:19pm
I wonder why so many regards this as "indonesia"'s problem. HTI is a transnational organisation, with utopic dream building a new calliphate somewhere in the world. Indonesians KNOW this. I talked to some muslims friends, and they noticed many inaccuracies and lies within the statements. So, please trust us, Indonesians, to solve such dynamics. We know HTI and their cronies. They are just similar as communistic fascists then in early 20th century Europe. We can learn a lot from the situation.